Sample News Release for Use During the Filing Season for Those Who Sponsor VITA Sites

 

Sample news release for Promoting EITC and volunteer sites throughout the filing season. Copy, paste into your template, and fill in your organization's information where indicated in [green italics]. Or, use this sample to create your own.

 

MILLIONS COULD OVERLOOK VALUABLE TAX CREDIT

([city], [state])--People who work and earn less than $50,270 from wages, self-employment or farming may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit or EITC and free help preparing their tax return. Workers who qualify for EITC could receive larger refunds. It can mean up to $475 in EITC for people without children, and up to $5,891 for those with three or more qualifying children.  EITC varies by income, family size and filing status and the average EITC amount last year was $2,200.

Although an estimated four out of five eligible workers and families get the credit, one in five still miss it, either because they don't claim it when filing, or don't file a tax return. This is money that can make a difference. Last year, the credit returned close to $62 billion dollars to over 27 million workers. [You may want to localize this statistic by using your state's information]

With the exception of some disability income, people must work to qualify for EITC. They earned it. Now they must file, claim it and get it.  EITC is a valuable but complex tax break for working families but free help is available from IRS-certified volunteers.  [Choose one or more of the following options that fit your community and your organization:

 

 Workers should come prepared to a volunteer site with the following:

  • A valid driver's license or other photo id card
  • Social security cards, a Social Security number (SSN) verification letter or the Individual Taxpayer Identifying Number (ITIN) for all persons listed on the return
  • Birth dates for all persons listed on return
  • All income statements: Forms W-2 and 1099, Social Security, unemployment, and other statements, such as pensions, stocks, interest and any documents showing taxes withheld
  • All records of expenses, such as tuition, mortgage interest, or real estate taxes
  • Copies of last year's state and federal tax returns, if available
  • Bank routing numbers and account numbers to direct deposit any refund
  • Dependent child care information: name and address of who you paid and either the caretaker's SSN or other tax identification number
  • Both spouses to sign forms to e-file (electronically file) a joint tax return

 

"EITC is a financial boost for working people, and their families and it allows more funds to flow into our community. It's money that can make lives a little easier," said [Enter spokesperson's name and name of organization].

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Last Updated 1/16/2013